Sweden-based New
Wave Group AB, parent company of Counselor
Top 40 supplier Cutter & Buck (asi/47965),
has acquired Paris Glove of Canada Ltd for $16.3 million. The deal, announced
late last week, allows New Wave access to several fashion and sportswear
divisions and expands its presence in the Canadian and U.S.
markets. “We view Paris Glove as a
complement to our other apparel lines and global markets,” said Torsten
Jansson, managing director and CEO of New Wave Group. “The company provides an
established base of entry to Canada’s retail markets for other New Wave
products with Paris Glove’s established customer base.”

Per the
agreement, all 90 Paris Glove employees – including its owners – have joined
New Wave’s staff. Paris Glove has been family-owned and operated since it was
established in 1945. In addition to providing men’s and women’s gloves, the
company offers scarves, headwear,
rainwear and high performance ski gear. Among its divisions are Laurentide, Gloves International
Incorporated and Auclair Sport, whose products were prominently on display at
the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. “Auclair and Paris enjoy one of the longest
sponsor-team relationships in all of sport with a 30-plus year history with the
Canadian cross country ski team,” said Peter Monk, president and CEO of Paris Glove. “We envision the
opportunity for expansion into the European and Asian markets with the strength
of New Wave’s reach.”

One of the
oldest specialty companies of its kind in North America,
Paris Glove generated sales of approximately $27.5 million in 2010, with an
operating profit of $2.76 million. New
Wave Group AB, which purchased Cutter & Buck in 2007, has sales divisions
in 20 countries throughout Europe, North America and Asia. In 2010, New Wave
reported revenues of $630 million, while Cutter & Buck reported North
American ad specialty sales of $55 million.

Promotional products, also known as ad specialties, make up a $20.5 billion dollar industry and are used by virtually every business in America. Why? Items like mugs, pens and t-shirts are memorable and provide a better cost per impression for advertisers than almost every major marketing effort like prime time TV, magazines and radio.

With so many businesses buying ad specialties there is a huge opportunity for professionals looking to make great money running a promotional products distributorship. It’s easy and inexpensive to get started and you can work from home.

Making You Money: What ASI is all about.

Promotional products, also known as ad specialties, make up a $20.5 billion dollar industry and are used by virtually every business in America. Why? Items like mugs, pens and t-shirts are memorable and provide a better cost per impression for advertisers than almost every major marketing effort like prime time TV, magazines and radio.

With so many businesses buying ad specialties there is a huge opportunity for professionals looking to make great money running a promotional products distributorship. It’s easy and inexpensive to get started and you can work from home.